DE102012221813A1 - METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE MEMORY ASSIGNMENT IN A VIRTUAL WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, computer system, and program product for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual desktop environment, wherein the virtual desktop environment manages a shared memory capacity. The shared storage capacity includes one or more previously stored files, each stored file being associated with a respective unique first file identifier, wherein the virtual desktop environment provides a user's processing unit with at least one virtual workstation. The method, after receiving a first write request to write a second file specified in the request, comprises the steps of: setting a second file identifier of the specified second file; Comparing the second file identifier with the first file identifier of any first file stored in the shared memory capacity; if the second file identifier is identical to one of the first file identifiers, generating a pointer to the stored first file associated with that first file identifier; and if the second file identifier is not identical to any of the first file identifiers, storing the specified file associated with the second file identifier in the shared memory capacity, the second file identifier being stored as another first file identifier and the second file being stored as a first file identifier another first file is stored, and generating the pointer to the stored further first file.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to systems in a virtual environment, and more particularly to a method for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workspace environment.

background

Virtualization of computers is becoming one of the more important technologies for companies of different sizes. It increases the computing power and flexibility of a data processing hardware platform. In particular, the use of storage virtualization in a virtual workplace environment is also becoming a critical part of enterprise information processing in these companies.

In a virtual workplace environment, the local file system assigned to each workstation is an area of dedicated virtualized storage taken from a physical storage pool. Each time a user saves a file to his file system, a copy of that file is stored in the dedicated area of physical memory for that workstation. In the case where multiple users of a virtual workstation belonging to the same business context store the same file in their file system, this will likely result in multiple copies of the same file being stored in the shared physical memory. This redundancy leads to an unnecessary allocation of additional storage space, which makes it necessary to purchase larger storage volumes than actually needed.

Another problem associated with the use of other prior art systems is that users need to use pre-determined or shared directory tree structures and can not store their files in a user-specified location. Users of the systems also can not change the directory structure of the shared storage volumes as this would confuse other users who assume that their files are still available through the original file path.

Brief description of the invention

An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide an improved computer-implemented method, data processing system, and corresponding computer-readable storage medium. This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

As used herein, the term "virtual workstation" refers to a virtual machine that is physically located in a data store maintained by a virtual desktop environment. In particular, the virtual workspace may be provided by the virtual workspace running on a server instead of on the client's local storage. Thus, as users operate from their local client machines, all programs, applications, processes and data that are used are stored on the server and executed centrally according to embodiments. Virtualization of workstations allows users to run operating systems and applications from a smartphone or any other form of thin client that has limited hardware resources. According to some other applications, the virtual workstations may be temporarily loaded into the workstations of the client devices, while any change to the data will persist only in storage volumes maintained by the server.

The term "computer-readable storage medium" as used herein includes any physical storage medium capable of storing instructions that may be executed by a processor of a computing device. The computer readable storage medium may be referred to as a computer readable, seamless storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be referred to as a physical computer readable medium. In some embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium may also be capable of storing data that the processor of the computing device may access. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, a punched tape, punched cards, a magnetic hard disk drive, a solid state drive, a flash memory, a USB flash drive, Random Access Memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and the register file of the processor. Examples of optical disks include Compact Discs (CD) and Digital Versatile Disks (DVD), for example CD-ROM, CD-RW, CD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW or DVD-R discs. Plates. The term "computer-readable storage medium" also refers to various types of recording media that can be accessed by the computing unit via a network or communication link. For example, data may be retrieved over a modem, over the Internet, or over a local area network. mentions A computer-readable storage medium should be understood as having possibly several computer-readable storage media. Various executable components of a program or programs may be stored in different locations. The computer-readable storage medium may, for example, comprise a plurality of computer-readable storage media in the same computer system. The computer-readable storage medium may also be a computer-readable storage medium which is distributed over a plurality of computer systems or data processing units.

The term "metadata repository" (metadata repository) in this case comprises a storage medium or a part of a storage medium with stored metadata. For example, the metadata store may be implemented as a database system designed to support the storage, use, and retrieval of metadata by a processor. For example, metadata may include information about how to access certain data or more details about the data.

As used herein, the term "application programming interface (API)" refers to an interface used by software that implements the interface to interact with each other; in much the same way that software could implement a user interface to allow users to interact with it. APIs are used by software applications (SAs), libraries, and operating systems to determine how other software programs can make calls to or request services from them.An API determines the vocabulary and calling conventions the programmer should use to use the services and may include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, and protocols used for communication between a user and an implementer of the API.

The term "access control list" (ACL) in the present case denotes an indication of users and / or groups of users who are made in each security concept (eg access control concept, mandatory access control concept, user-defined access control concept, grid-based access control concept, etc.) the access to a file is allowed. According to embodiments, the level of allowed access (eg read-only access, read-write access, delete access, etc.) may also be specified in the access control list.

The term "computer memory" or "memory" is an example of a computer-readable storage medium. The computer memory is any memory that can be accessed by a processor. Examples of computer memory include, but are not limited to, RAM, registers, and register files. In some cases, a computer memory may also include: a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, or a solid state drive. Part of a memory can actually be swap space on a hard disk drive. Mention of the terms "computer memory" or "memory" should be understood to mean that the latter may have multiple memories. For example, the memory may include multiple memories in the same computer system. The memory may also have a plurality of memories which are distributed over a plurality of computer systems or data processing units.

The term "processor" herein includes an electronic component that can execute a program or machine-executable instruction. Mentions of the computing device to include "a processor" should be understood to potentially include more than one processor or processing core. The processor may be, for example, a multi-core processor. A processor may also refer to a group of processors residing in a single computer system or distributed across multiple computer systems.

• – Empfangen einer ersten Schreibanforderung, eine in der Anforderung angegebene zweite Datei zu schreiben;
• – Festlegen einer zweiten Dateikennung der angegebenen zweiten Datei;
• – Vergleichen der zweiten Dateikennung mit der ersten Dateikennung einer beliebigen ersten Datei, die in der gemeinschaftlich genutzten Speicherkapazität gespeichert wird;
• – wenn die zweite Dateikennung mit einer der ersten Dateikennungen identisch ist, Erzeugen eines Zeigers auf die gespeicherte erste Datei, die dieser ersten Dateikennung zugeordnet ist; und
• – wenn die zweite Dateikennung nicht mit einer beliebigen der ersten Dateikennungen identisch ist, Speichern der angegebenen Datei, die der zweiten Dateikennung zugeordnet ist, in der gemeinschaftlich genutzten Speicherkapazität, wobei die zweite Dateikennung als eine weitere erste Dateikennung gespeichert wird und die zweite Datei als eine weitere erste Datei gespeichert wird, und Erzeugen des Zeigers auf die gespeicherte weitere erste Datei.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workspace environment wherein the virtual desktop environment manages a shared memory capacity, the shared memory capacity serving to store one or more first files, each stored first file of one associated with each unique first file identifier, the virtual desktop environment providing a processing unit of a user with at least one virtual workstation, the method comprising:

• - receiving a first write request to write a second file specified in the request;
• - specify a second file identifier of the specified second file;
• Comparing the second file identifier with the first file identifier of any first file stored in the shared memory capacity;
• If the second file identifier is identical to one of the first file identifiers, generating a pointer to the stored first file associated with that first file identifier; and
• If the second file identifier is not identical to any of the first file identifiers, storing the specified file associated with the second file identifier in the shared memory capacity, the second file identifier being stored as a further first file identifier and the second file being stored as a first file identifier another first file is stored, and generating the pointer to the stored further first file.

The embodiment may be advantageous because the method prevents the storage of identical files in the shared storage capacity and also allows different users to access the same stored file. This not only saves space in advance, but also improves the performance of the memory. This is in contrast to a post-storage deduplication process, which is performed only when the files in the storage area are already duplicated.

According to another embodiment, the pointer is generated in a local file system of the virtual workstation, wherein the local file system is preferably stored in a user-specific memory area, which only this user can access.

According to another embodiment, the first write request is received from the at least one virtual workstation and the pointer is generated in the local file system of the virtual workstation.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of receiving an indication of a path in the local file system from the at least one virtual workstation of the user of the at least one virtual workstation. The pointer is generated to a location on the local file system specified by the specified path. According to embodiments, the user may access the path via a GUI element, e.g. A file selector, which gives the user the ability to navigate within an existing directory tree of a local file system. Thus, unlike some prior art systems, the user is allowed to specify a file path in his own local directory and does not need to remember and adopt a predetermined shared directory structure. In addition, the duplication of files stored in the shared storage capacity is avoided. The embodiments may be advantageous in that the user making the request to write a file to a particular folder of his virtual workstation determines that the file having the desired characteristics has been created on the local file system (eg, file name, location folder, etc.), although in reality the local file system merely has a link to the actual physical file stored in the shared storage capacity. According to embodiments, the user's local file system is stored in a user-specific storage medium of the user. The user-specific storage is also managed by the virtual workplace environment.

According to a further embodiment, the first and / or the second file identifier is a number of the cyclic redundancy check of the file, a hash number, SHA-1 or MD5, of the respective file belonging to the identifier. This may have the advantage of providing a robust method that serves to compute a unique identification number so that different files have different identifiers. This makes it possible to check if the file being requested for storage is one of the previously stored files in the shared storage capacity.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises: after storing any of the first files and after storing the second file in the shared storage capacity, associating the first and / or the second file with an access control list containing user IDs from all users that has access to the stored first or second file. Additionally or alternatively, after storing any of the first files and storing the second file in the shared storage capacity, the method comprises associating the stored file with a reference number representative of the number of users accessing the stored first or have a second file.

The embodiment may be advantageous as it ensures secure and controlled access to the stored files that are protected by granting access only to users whose user IDs are specified in the access control list.

According to embodiments, only user IDs of users allowed to access a stored file are included in the ACL of the stored file. Another advantage may be that the number of users who access a stored File can be easily determined by reading a reference number, which is a single number. This is faster than having to read and derive this number from the access control list of the stored file, for example by counting the number of users listed in the access control list.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises receiving an erase request from the user. The delete request specifies one of the first files. Upon receipt of the delete request, the user ID of the user who submitted the deletion request is deleted from the access control list of the file specified in the deletion request. According to a further embodiment, in addition to removing the user identifier in this case, the reference number is reduced. This will ensure that the access control list and the reference count continue to represent the exact number of users who have access to the file. According to another embodiment, in this case, the pointer of this file, which is stored in the local file system of the user's virtual workstation, is also deleted. Also, the file is deleted from the shared storage capacity if the reference count is null.

According to another embodiment, the step of storing the specified second file further comprises the steps of: generating the access control list and / or the reference number for the specified second file; and adding the user identifier to the access control list and / or increasing the reference number.

According to another embodiment, the step of generating the pointer comprises the step of adding the user identifier to the access control list of the file to which the pointer is being directed and / or increasing the reference number.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises:
Receiving a second write request to write the second file;
Generating a second pointer to the existing first file that has been stored in response to the first write request, wherein the second pointer is generated in the local file system of the virtual workstation of a user who made the second write request.

According to one embodiment, the first write request and the second write request are received from the same user, and the reference number remains unchanged. This has the advantage of giving the user the flexibility to organize his own files in the file system, for example, by storing the same file in various locations without restrictions. At the same time, these features allow only one copy of the file to be kept in the shared memory.

According to embodiments, in the case where the first write request and the second write request are received from different users, the reference number and the file access list are updated accordingly.

• – Empfangen einer Aktualisierungsanforderung von dem Benutzer, wobei die Aktualisierungsanforderung eine der ersten Dateien angibt, die von dem Benutzer geändert werden soll;
• – Speichern der geänderten ersten Datei in der gemeinschaftlich genutzten Speicherkapazität;
• – Erzeugen eines Zeigers auf die geänderte Datei in dem lokalen Dateisystem des Benutzers.

According to embodiments, the method further comprises the steps of:

• - receiving an update request from the user, the update request indicating one of the first files to be changed by the user;
• Storing the changed first file in the shared storage capacity;
• Generate a pointer to the changed file in the user's local file system.

According to embodiments, the method further includes deleting the pointer pointing to the stored modified first file.

According to embodiments, the modification of the file is performed by creating a modified local copy F 'of the first file F to be changed, storing the local copy in the user's local file system, and executing a write request as described above to write the modified local copy F.

According to one embodiment, the virtual workspace is provided by the virtual workspace environment as an instance of a virtual machine image, and a graphical user interface of the virtual workspace is displayed on a user-specific processing unit screen to the user of the processing unit. Depending on the embodiment, the processing unit may be a smartphone, a netbook, a workstation or the like. In particular, the processing unit may be a processing unit in the form of a thin client having only limited hardware resources.

According to another embodiment, the user is a user of a plurality of users, each of whom is assigned a user-specific processing unit, and wherein the virtual workstation is a virtual workstation from a plurality of virtual workstations. Each of the variety of virtual workplaces is covered by the virtual workspace environment of one of the processing units. A server hosting the virtual workspace environment is connected to each of the user-specific processing units via a network. The steps performed by embodiments of the present invention described above are performed by a storage infrastructure management unit running on the server.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable, seamless storage medium having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of the method of any of the foregoing embodiments.

• – die gemeinschaftlich genutzte Speicherkapazität; und
• – eine Server-Verarbeitungseinheit, die eine Verwaltungseinheit für eine virtuelle Speicherinfrastruktur beherbergt, wobei die Verwaltungseinheit für die virtuelle Speicherinfrastruktur so gestaltet ist, dass sie: – über die virtuelle Arbeitsplatzumgebung eine erste Schreibanforderung, eine in der Anforderung angegebene zweite Datei zu schreiben, empfängt; – eine zweite Dateikennung der angegebenen Datei festlegt; – die zweite Dateikennung mit einer jeden der ersten Dateikennungen einer beliebigen ersten Datei vergleicht, die in den gemeinschaftlich genutzten Speicherkapazitäten gespeichert worden sind; – wenn die zweite Dateikennung mit einer der ersten Dateikennungen identisch ist, einen Zeiger auf die gespeicherte erste Datei erzeugt, die dieser ersten Dateikennung zugeordnet ist; und – wenn die zweite Dateikennung nicht mit einer beliebigen der ersten Dateikennungen identisch ist, die angegebene zweite Datei, die der zweiten Dateikennung zugeordnet ist, in der gemeinschaftlich genutzten Speicherkapazität speichert, wobei die zweite Dateikennung als eine weitere erste Dateikennung gespeichert wird und die zweite Datei als eine weitere erste Datei gespeichert wird, und einen Zeiger auf die gespeicherte weitere erste Datei erzeugt.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a computer system for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual desktop environment wherein the virtual desktop environment manages shared memory, the shared memory storing one or more previously stored files, each associated file being associated with a respective unique first file identifier wherein the virtual workstation environment provides at least one virtual workstation to a processing unit of a user, the computing system comprising:

• - the shared storage capacity; and
• A server processing unit hosting a virtual storage infrastructure management unit, wherein the virtual storage infrastructure management unit is configured to: receive via the virtual desktop environment a first write request to write a second file specified in the request; - specifies a second file identifier of the specified file; - compares the second file identifier with each of the first file identifiers of any first file that has been stored in the shared storage capacities; If the second file identifier is identical to one of the first file identifiers, generates a pointer to the stored first file associated with that first file identifier; and if the second file identifier is not identical to any one of the first file identifiers, stores the specified second file associated with the second file identifier in the shared memory capacity, the second file identifier being stored as another first file identifier and the second file is stored as another first file, and generates a pointer to the stored further first file.

According to another embodiment, the client processing unit is connected to the server processing unit via a network and serves to request the virtual workstation via the network from the virtual workstation environment.

According to further embodiments, the client unit is a client unit of a plurality of client units, each assigned to a user of a plurality of different users, each of the client units serving to provide a virtual workstation over the network to request a virtual workplace environment.

According to certain embodiments, the virtual workstations provided to each of the client devices comprise GUI elements, each representing the pointers generated after a write request from the user of the respective client device. The visible properties of the GUI elements, e.g. The color, type of icon, and the like are identical to GUI elements used by the respective virtual desktop environment to display files, thus giving the user the impression of being with a real file rather than a link is working.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, aspects of the present invention may be practiced as a system, method, or computer program product. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a wholly hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment including software and hardware. Manifestations, all of which may be collectively referred to herein as a "module" or a "system." Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be used.

Brief description of the drawings

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:

1 shows a system architecture for carrying out a method for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workplace environment,

2 is a flowchart of a method for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workplace environment is and

3 is a block diagram of a server processing unit and a client processing unit.

Detailed description

Hereinafter, like numbered elements in the figures indicate either similar elements or elements that perform the same or equivalent function. Elements previously discussed will not necessarily be discussed in later figures if the function is the same or equivalent.

1 shows a proposed system architecture 100 , which serves to execute a process for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workplace environment. As used herein, the term "virtual workplace environment" means a system for providing workstation services through distributed resources to end users.

The system 100 introduces thin clients 123 ready to go through an administrative unit 105 for a virtual storage infrastructure manager (VSIM) and a computer network 103 such as the Internet, for data sharing with a shared storage capacity 113 are connected. The administrative unit 105 for a virtual storage infrastructure has a storage space optimizer 109 Access to the shared data store 113 , The storage area optimizer 109 can be part of the virtual storage infrastructure management unit running on a remote server 120 be running, be or connected with it for operational purposes. The server 120 can perform any server function, such as data servers, application servers, or web servers.

The thin client 123 may be, for example, a networked desktop computing device without local memory. It has an embedded operating system or limited-functionality firmware, and allows users to verify their identity, network / server access, remote display, and input / output support including keyboard, mouse, local USB, and printing features. The thin client 123 performs over its connection with the server 120 a virtual workplace. The virtual workstation may provide one or more views that are available to a user via a graphical user interface (GUI). 101 of the thin client 123 are displayed. The thin client 123 has the function of an interface between the user and the shared storage capacity 113 , The thin client 123 is user-specific and displays GUI elements to the user that represent elements of a local file system. The user's local file system can be customized by the user and thus allows the user to specify the organization of the files owned by the user. The local file system may have a user-specific memory 316 . 317 (see. 3 ), where file pointers that point to files that the user can access are stored.

An application programming interface (API) ( 107 ) processes requests from the user of the virtual workstation and returns responses to these requests. The requirements may be, for example, CRUD operations (CRUD stands for "create, read, update, delete" or "generate, read, update, delete"). These requests are sent to the storage space optimizer 109 forwarded. The storage area optimizer 109 enables and manages the requirements, such as the CRUD operations, and places user requests in shared storage capacity requirements 113 To retrieve and save information to. The API interface 107 is controlled by the VSIM and prevents the virtual workstations 310 , in the 3 shown, directly with the shared storage capacity 113 to interact with each other.

The shared storage capacity 113 is with the server 120 connected for business purposes. The shared storage capacity may be part of the server, for example, or the server may share the shared storage capacity over a network. The shared storage capacity 113 may consist of one or more interconnected storage devices such as a redundant array of independent hard drives (RAID) to store data files. The system 100 puts on the stored files 117 Information ready. The information includes, for example, an access control list, a file identifier, a reference number indicating the number of users who can access a file, and so on. This information is stored in a metadata store 111 saved. The metadata store 111 is for operational purposes with the Storage area optimization program 109 connected to exchange this information.

2 FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workplace environment. In step 201 receives the API 107 the VSIM 105 Requirements, a specific file in the shared storage capacity 113 to write. The request is triggered, for example, by a user who stores a particular file attached to his e-mail in a user-specific memory. The user-specific memory has a local file system of a virtual workstation. The virtual workstation becomes the thin client 123 provided. The API directs the request to the storage space optimizer 109 further. In step 203 computes the storage space optimizer 109 a second identifier for the specified file. The second identifier may be, for example, but not limited to, a cyclic redundancy check number of the file, a hash number, SHA-1, or MD5. In step 205 compares the storage area optimizer 109 the second identifier of the specified file that is being requested, with the first identifiers of the files previously in the shared storage capacity 113 were saved. The storage area optimizer 109 retrieves the identifiers of the stored files from the metadata store 111 from.

If the second identifier is identical to one of the first file identifiers, the memory region optimizer first adds the user identifier to the access control list and / or increments a reference number associated with the stored file where the first identifier is identical to the second identifier. The access control list and the reference count will then be in the metadata store 111 saved. Next, the memory space optimizer generates 109 a pointer to the existing stored file associated with this first identifier. In step 209 the pointer is generated in the user-specific memory having the local file system of the virtual workstation requested by the user. The user-specified storage may be a logical volume or a physical storage volume. If the specified file is requested a second time by the same user to write the file to a second location in the same virtual machine file system directory tree, a second pointer is created that points to the existing first file in the user's user-defined memory , In this case, the reference number remains unchanged.

If the second write request has been received from a second user, with the other user making a write request for a file that has already been stored by the first user, a pointer will be added to the existing file in the shared memory 113 shows generated in the local directory of a user-specific memory of the second user. For example, the second user may use a second thin client. The second thin client operates a second virtual workstation that displays graphical references of elements of a local file tree indicated by the second user. In this case, the reference number is updated.

If the second file identifier is not identical to any of the first file identifiers, the memory space optimizer generates 109 First, an ACL and / or reference count for the specified file and add the user ID to the ACL and / or increase the reference count. The access control list and the reference count will then be in the metadata store 111 saved. Next, the memory space optimizer saves 109 in step 207 the specified file, which belongs to the second file identifier, in the shared memory capacity 113 and creates a new pointer to the specified file in the user-specified memory that has the local file system of the virtual workstation selected by the user. The second identifier is then stored as another first identifier.

There is another use case where the user requests deletion of one of the files previously stored in the shared storage capacity. In this case, this user's user ID is removed from the access control list of this file, and the reference count of this file is reduced.

3 shows a virtual desktop environment that is a server processing unit 120 which communicates with a client processing unit, e.g. A thin client 123.1 , over a network 103 , z. As the Internet or an intranet connected. The thin client has a processor 304 and a memory 303 on. The main memory has user data and program instructions of a virtual workstation 310 on, over the network 103 from the administrative unit 105 for a virtual storage infrastructure used by the server 120 operated, was provided. The virtual workstation 310 is an instance of an image 301 a virtual machine and can be a graphical user interface 302 make available to the user 320 of the thin client 123.1 is displayed on a screen of the thin client.

The graphical user interface to the user 320 is displayed may have elements of a graphical user interface (GUI elements) that represent file pointers which are stored in the storage medium 311 get saved.

The storage medium 311 is for operational purposes with the server 120 connected and may have a shared storage capacity 113 and one or more user-private storages (UPS) 316 . 317 exhibit.

The shared storage capacity 113 can one or more files 313 . 308 . 321 exhibit. Each of the files may be assigned an identifier of one or more users allowed to access that file. The data content of any of the user-specific memories has data, in particular the file pointers, which can only be accessed by a specific user to whom the user-specific memory is allocated. The UPS 316 For example, the user can 320 be assigned.

The user 320 can create and change a directory tree, and can make a request to write a file to a specific file tree location, with the path to that location being from the user 320 via the GUI 302 has been specified.

The GUI 302 can give the user a graphical representation of the elements of the directory tree and in particular the file pointer 314 which point to files and represent files that are in shared storage 113 are stored. For example, a symbol (icon) that the user 320 about the GUIs 302 is displayed, the file pointer 314 represent. The symbol may not be distinguishable from a symbol of a real file. The user 320 thus has the impression that he is on a real file 313 although stored in its local file tree, although the user 320 actually only on a file pointer 316 accessing that in its user-specific memory 316 is stored, with the pointer to the file 313 in the shared storage capacity 113 shows.

The user-specific memory 317 can be assigned to another user. The UPS 317 can also be a pointer 315 that point to the file 313 shows. The file 313 may be assigned an access list containing the user IDs of the users associated with the UPS 316 and the UPS 317 are assigned.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

system

101

Graphical user interface

103

network

105

Management unit for a virtual storage infrastructure

107

API

109

Storage area optimization program

111

Metadata storage

113

shared storage capacity

117

saved file

201-209

steps

123

Thin client

301

Image of the virtual machine

302

GUI

303

Storage

304

processor

305

processor

308

file

309

Storage

310

virtual workplace

311

storage medium

313

file

314

Pointer to file

315

Pointer to file

316

user-specific memory

317

user-specific memory

320

user

321

file

322

virtual workplace environment

Claims (15)

Method for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workplace environment, wherein the virtual desktop environment ( 322 ) a shared storage capacity ( 113 ), whereby the shared storage capacity ( 113 ) serves one or more first files ( 117 . 313 . 314 . 321 ), each saved first file ( 117 . 313 . 314 . 321 ) is associated with a respective unique first file identifier, wherein the virtual workstation environment of a processing unit ( 123 ) of a user ( 320 ) at least one virtual workstation ( 310 ), the method comprising: - receiving ( 201 ) a first write request to write a second file specified in the request; - Establish ( 203 ) a second file identifier of the specified second file; - To compare ( 205 ) the second file identifier with the first file identifier of any first file, which is stored in the shared storage capacity; If the second file identifier is identical to one of the first file IDs, generate ( 209 ) of a pointer ( 314 . 315 ) to the stored first file associated with that first file identifier; and if the second file identifier is not identical to any of the first file identifiers, then storing ( 207 ) of the specified file associated with the second file identifier in the shared memory capacity ( 113 ), wherein the second file identifier is stored as another first file identifier and the second file is stored as another first file, and generating the pointer ( 314 . 315 ) on the saved further first file. The method of claim 1, wherein the first write request from the at least one virtual workstation ( 310 ) and the pointer in a local file system from the at least one virtual workstation ( 310 ) is produced. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving an indication of a path in the local file system from the at least one virtual workstation; 310 ) of the user of the at least one virtual workstation, the pointer being generated at a location in the local file system specified by the specified path. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and / or the second file identifier is a number of a cyclic redundancy check of the file, a hash number, SHA-1 or MD5, the respective file belonging to the identifier. The method of any preceding claim 1 to 4, further comprising: after storing any of the first files and after storing the second file in the shared memory capacity ( 113 Associating the first and / or the second file with an access control list having user IDs of all users having access to the stored first or second file and / or after storing any of the first files and storing the second file in the shared storage capacity ( 113 Assigning the first or second file to a reference number representing the number of users having access to the stored first or second file. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: Receiving a deletion request from the user, the deletion request indicating one of the first files; - Remove the user ID of this user from the access control list of the file specified in the delete request. The method of any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the step of generating the pointer further comprises the step of adding the user identifier to the access control list and / or increasing the reference number. The method of any of claims 5 to 6, wherein the step of storing the specified second file comprises the steps of: Generating the access control list and / or the reference number for the specified second file; and Add the user ID to the access control list and / or increase the reference count. The method of one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: receiving a second write request to write the second file; Generating a second pointer to the existing first file which has been stored in response to a first write request, the second pointer in the local file system of the virtual workstation ( 310 ) is produced. The method of claim 9, wherein in the case where the first write request and the second write request are received from the same user, the reference number remains unchanged. Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the virtual workstation ( 310 ) of the virtual workplace environment as an instance of an image ( 301 ) is provided to a virtual machine, the virtual workstation having a graphical user interface displayed to the user via a screen of the user's processing unit. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the user is a user of a plurality of users, each of whom has a user-specific processing unit ( 213.1 . 123.2 . 123.3 ), wherein the virtual workstation is a virtual workstation from a plurality of virtual workstations, wherein each of the plurality of virtual workstations is provided by the virtual workspace environment of one of the processing units, wherein a server ( 120 ), which is the virtual workplace environment ( 322 ), via a network with each of the user-specific ones Processing units is connected and wherein the steps of the method according to claim 1 of a storage infrastructure management unit ( 105 ) running on the server ( 120 ) running. A computer program product having instructions of a programming code to perform the steps of the method of any of claims 1 to 12 when the program is run on a processor ( 305 ) is performed. Computer system for optimizing memory allocation in a virtual workplace environment, whereby the virtual desktop environment ( 322 ) a shared storage capacity ( 113 ), whereby the shared storage capacity ( 113 ) serves one or more first files ( 117 . 313 . 308 . 321 ), each saved first file ( 117 ) is associated with a respective unique first file identifier, wherein the virtual workstation environment of a processing unit ( 123 ) of a user ( 320 ) at least one virtual workstation ( 310 ), the computer system comprising: - the shared memory capacity ( 113 ); and a server processing unit ( 120 ), which is an administrative unit ( 105 ) for a virtual storage infrastructure, the administrative unit ( 105 ) for the virtual storage infrastructure is arranged to: receive a first write request to write a second file specified in the request ( 201 ); - specifies a second file identifier of the specified file ( 203 ); - compares the second file identifier with the first file identifier of any of the first files ( 205 ) stored in the shared storage capacity; If the second file identifier is identical to one of the first file identifiers, generates a pointer to the stored first file ( 209 ) associated with this first file identifier; and if the second file identifier is not identical to any of the first file identifiers, stores the specified second file associated with the second file identifier in the shared memory capacity ( 207 ), wherein the second file identifier is stored as a further first file identifier and the second file is stored as another first file, and generates a pointer to the stored further first file. A computer system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the client processing unit is for servicing the virtual workstation ( 310 ) requesting the user from the virtual workspace environment ( 322 ), wherein the client processing unit is connected to the server processing unit via a network.

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